Friday Night Flag Expands With New High School Leagues for Boys and Girls

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As flag football continues to grow across the country, that momentum is reaching Idaho Falls.

Friday Night Flag has officially opened registration for new high school leagues for both boys and girls, marking another step forward for a sport that is quickly gaining popularity nationwide. The growth comes as flag football prepares to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games, where women's flag football will be featured.

League manager Reese Shurtliff said the decision to expand was driven largely by community interest.

“People were asking for it,” Shurtliff said. “We're trying to push more girls playing flag football. It's coming to the Olympics in 2028 for women's flag football, and there are also college scholarships available for girls flag football. We're trying to promote it here.”

Shurtliff said participation has steadily increased over the years, with more players and families showing interest in the sport.

“We've had consistent growth,” he said. “There's more interest overall as a community.”

While he believes the upcoming Olympics may play a role in the sport's rise, he expects the biggest impact to come once people see the competition on television.

“I don't know how much of it is being driven by the Olympics,” Shurtliff said. “My guess is some, but it'll probably be bigger after the Olympics when people see it on TV.”

Shurtliff also pointed to flag football's appeal as a safer alternative to traditional tackle football while still providing many of the same benefits.

“I think it's getting more and more popular because it's a safer alternative to football,” he said. “But it's still fast-paced and still prepares kids for high school football or the next level.”

Looking ahead, Shurtliff said his ultimate goal is to help make girls flag football a sanctioned high school sport in Idaho.

If you are interested and would like to register to play in the Fall, you can visit https://www.fridaynightflag.com